Best Public Schools in Zip Code 78721

The 78721 zip code area of Austin, Texas is home to 7 schools, including 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools, serving diverse student populations with varying academic performance. While Lasa High School stands out as an exceptional performer, ranking 6th out of 1,987 Texas high schools, the other schools in the area face significant challenges in providing quality education to their predominantly economically disadvantaged student populations.

Lasa High School is the clear standout, with exceptional test scores, a 99.7% 4-year graduation rate, and a 0.0% dropout rate. In contrast, the public charter schools in the area, Idea Health Professions Academy and The East Austin College Prep At Mlk, generally underperform compared to the traditional public schools, despite serving similar student populations. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the charter school model in this area.

The data also suggests a correlation between higher per-student spending and better academic outcomes, with the schools that have the highest spending, such as Norman-Sims Elementary and Ortega Elementary, also having the strongest test scores and other performance indicators. The high rates of free/reduced lunch eligibility across most of the schools highlight the socioeconomic challenges faced by students in this zip code, which likely contribute to the academic struggles seen at many of the campuses.